We talk a lot about making our groups more welcoming and trying to bring more parents into the volunteering fold. But are your messages home supporting those goals?

Funny thing is, I'm talking about little things: Do you start with a welcome? Do you always close with a sincere thank-you? Are you preachy or do you use guilt tactics ("It's hard to believe that in a school with 400 children, we can't get 10 volunteers")? (I wrote a column a while back about avoiding guilt recruiting.) Or do you remain positive even when the frustrations of a long year are getting to you? Do you take the time to be careful with your editing and to try to write well?

These are the simple things that play a role in how you're perceived by parents at your school. Tone tells a story about your group. Careful editing says your group believes its work is important.

I know you're busy. And I know it's hard to stay positive when you're working so hard and facing obstacles and complaints along the way. But these little things do matter.